The 12th annual Village Building Convergence (VBC), a ten-day placemaking festival that combines crowdsourced activism, creative community development, hands-on education and celebration, takes place in Portland from May 25 through June 3, 2012.

Rose Festival CityFair, part of Portland’s Official Festival, is open for three full weekends starting on Memorial Day weekend. This amazing metropolitan fair features local beer, live exotic animals, a wide variety of shopping in the CityFair Shopping Center, a brand new ride, special attractions and a customized fireworks show choreographed to your favorite classic rock hits on opening night! [more]

Total Recall is the featured film at the cortandfatboy Midnight Movie, on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne).

“And thus begins our Summer of Schwarzenegger.

Normally, we try to augment the summer blockbuster season by pulling from bonafides from the past. Hollywood spits out a Transformers movie, we decide to show Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fast Five is coming to town? That’s cool, we’re showing Top Gun. That kinda thing.” [more]

Rogue Ales will host the 5th Annual Firkin Fest at the Green Dragon. The Firkin Fest will feature beers from 30 of Oregon’s top breweries. Firkin beers are unpasteurized, unfiltered, naturally carbonated in the cask and served at cellar temperature. Artisan cheeses, chocolates and meats will accompany. Proceeds benefit Buckman Elementary School. [more]

“One of last year’s surprise hits was Amnesia Brewing’s first-time Single Hop Fest. The small fest held at the N Mississippi Avenue brewery features all locally-made beers that use only one variety of hop. This year the fest returns to Amnesia on June 2nd with some new and returning beers.” [more at The New School]

The Portland General Electric/SOLVE Starlight Parade offers funky, eclectic fun for the whole family. One of our most popular events, the parade draws more than 250,000 spectators to downtown Portland. [more]

Normally, we try to augment the summer blockbuster season by pulling from bonafides from the past. Hollywood spits out a Transformers movie, we decide to show Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fast Five is coming to town? That’s cool, we’re showing Top Gun. That kinda thing.

This year, we decided to haul out the big gun himself, and as many a producer did in the late ’80s/early ’90s, we’re turning the summer over to Arnold Schwarzenegger. A trilogy of marble-mouthed mayhem will explode across the Bagdad screen for the next three months, beginning with Paul Verhoeven’s ridiculous sci-fi cartoon, Total Recall.

What are the odds the upcoming remake, directed by That Guy Who Did Die Hard 4 & The Underworld Movies, will be even a third as garish, lurid, unapologetically hyper-violent, and most importantly, goofy as all hell? I’d bet on the sure thing, myself: Bet on Kuato. Bet on Cohaagen. Bet on Jonny Cab, and triple-breasted women, and visuals that will make your eyes pop out of your head.

Doors open at 10pm. Film begins at 11pm. Admission is only $3, and you have to be 21 or over.

ResiliencePDX is an event to connect Portlanders who want to acquire or share knowledge and skills about disaster preparedness. Geologists suggest we are due for a major earthquake in this region, and better preparedness can save lives and minimize impacts of a disaster. The more we are prepared, the faster we will be able to recover and return to ‘normalcy’. At this event, we will showcase the various groups around Portland that can serve as resources for the community before, during, and after a major emergency. There will also be a number of skills workshops, where experts will share knowledge to help you prepare for and recover from a disaster.

The 6th annual Zoo Brew takes place Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oregon Zoo from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Kick off the dog days of summer in style and raise a glass to the Oregon Zoo. Bring your pack to sample artisan beer and cider from more than 60 regional breweries. Shake a tail feather to the premier party sounds of Cool-Ade on the concert main stage and DJ Angry Little Man.

Workshops will be offered as well, on topics including Debunking beer myths, Introduction to home brewing, Wild brew: exciting styles and additions, and more.

Tickets are $35 (unless you got them before May 16) and include a commemorative tasting glass, 10 tasting tokens (extra tokens $1 each), and admission to the zoo after 4pm. This is event is 21 and over only! Proceeds directly support the Oregon Zoo’s efforts in the areas of animal welfare, conservation, education and environmental sustainability programs and activities.